U.S. patent application number 10/785512 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for connector in which occurrence of crosstalk is suppressed by a ground contact.
This patent application is currently assigned to JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED. Invention is credited to Haga, Goro.
Application Number | 20040166700 10/785512 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32767734 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040166700 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haga, Goro |
August 26, 2004 |
Connector in which occurrence of crosstalk is suppressed by a
ground contact
Abstract
In a connector (1) to be connected to a circuit board (5), a
signal contact (3) is disposed between first and second ground
contacts (4) and held by an insulator (2) together with the first
and the second ground contacts. Each of the signal contact, the
first ground contact, and the second ground contact has a terminal
portion to be connected to the circuit board. The first ground
contact has an extended portion extending from the terminal portion
thereof towards the second ground contact. The first and the second
ground contacts are cooperated with each other to substantially
surround the terminal portion of the signal contact with using the
extended portion.
Inventors: |
Haga, Goro; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Assignee: |
JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS
INDUSTRY, LIMITED
|
Family ID: |
32767734 |
Appl. No.: |
10/785512 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/6585 20130101;
H01R 12/721 20130101; H01R 12/714 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/059 |
International
Class: |
H05K 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2003 |
JP |
47799/2003 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connector to be connected to a circuit board, said connector
comprising: an insulator; first and second ground contacts held by
said insulator and spaced from each other; and a signal contact
disposed between said first and said second ground contacts and
held by said insulator, each of said signal contact, said first
ground contact, and said second ground contact having a terminal
portion to be connected to said circuit board; said first ground
contact having an extended portion extending from said terminal
portion thereof towards said second ground contact; said first and
said second ground contacts being cooperated with each another to
substantially surround said terminal portion of said signal contact
with using said extended portion.
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said extended
portion has a pair of flat plate portions faced to each other, said
terminal portion of said signal contact being at least partially
disposed between said flat plate portions.
3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein said flat plate
portions are extended from said terminal portion of said first
ground contact.
4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of said
terminal portions has a lead portion faced to said circuit
board.
5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board
has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first
surface, said terminal portion of each of said first and said
second ground contacts having a pair of lead portions faced to said
first and said second surfaces of said circuit board,
respectively.
6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein said terminal
portion of said signal contact has a lead portion faced to only
said first surface of said circuit board.
7. The connector according to claim 6, further comprising an
additional signal contact disposed between said first and said
second ground contacts and held by said insulator, said terminal
portion of said signal contact and a terminal portion of said
additional signal contact being substantially completely surrounded
by said first and said second ground contacts cooperating with each
other and by using said extended portion.
8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein said terminal
portion of said additional signal contact has a lead portion faced
to only the second surface of said circuit board.
9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said first and said
second ground contacts are arranged in parallel in a first
direction, each of said first and said second ground contacts being
provided with said terminal portion at one end in a second
direction perpendicular to said first direction and with a
contacting portion formed at the other end in said second direction
to be contacted with a mating member to be connected to said
connector.
10. The connector according to claim 7, wherein each of said first
and said second ground contacts is made of a plate material, said
terminal portion of each of said first and said second ground
contacts extending in a third direction perpendicular to said first
and said second directions and in said second direction.
11. A connector to be connected to a circuit board, said connector
comprising: an insulator to be engaged with said circuit board; a
plurality of signal contacts held by said insulator and arranged in
a single row in a first direction; and a plurality of ground
contacts held by said insulator and arranged in a single row in the
first direction, each of said signal contacts having: a terminal
portion formed at one end in a second direction perpendicular to
said first direction to be connected to said circuit board; and a
contacting portion formed at the other end in the second direction
to be connected to a mating member to be connected to said
connector, each of said ground contacts having: a terminal portion
formed at one end in the second direction to be connected to said
circuit board; a contacting portion formed at the other end in the
second direction to be contacted with said mating member; and a
pair of flat plate portions protruding from said terminal portions
of each of said ground contacts in said first direction and spaced
from each other in a third direction perpendicular to said first
and said second directions, said signal contacts and said ground
contacts being alternately disposed, said terminal portion of each
of said signal contacts being surrounded on three sides by the
terminal portions of adjacent ones of said ground contacts and said
flat plate portions.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to prior Japanese
application JP 2003-47799, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector to be connected
to a circuit board.
[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A)
No. 2001-28284 discloses a coaxial connector for use in a circuit
board. The coaxial connector disclosed in the publication comprises
a plurality of signal leads disposed on an electronic circuit
package and a plurality of ground members each of which surrounds
each of the signal leads on three sides thereof. Each of the ground
member is connected to a ground terminal disposed between adjacent
ones of the signal leads.
[0004] Further, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No.
2000-67955 discloses a balanced transmission line connector
comprising a plurality of signal contact pairs each of which is
surrounded by a plurality of ground members so as to prevent
occurrence of crosstalk.
[0005] In each of the connectors mentioned above, it is required to
contain the ground member of a special design. As a result, the
connector is increased in size and complicated in structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a simple and compact connector capable of suppressing
occurrence of crosstalk without requiring a ground member of a
special design.
[0007] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as
the description proceeds.
[0008] According to an aspect of the presents invention, there is
provided with a connector to be connected to a circuit board. The
connector comprises an insulator, first and second ground contacts
held by the insulator and spaced from each other, and a signal
contact disposed between the first and the second ground contacts
and held by the insulator. Each of the signal contact, the first
ground contact, and the second ground contact has a terminal
portion to be connected to the circuit board. The first ground
contact has an extended portion extending from the terminal portion
thereof towards the second ground contact. The first and the second
ground contacts are cooperated with each another to substantially
surround the terminal portion of the signal contact with using the
extended portion.
[0009] According to another aspect of the presents invention, there
is provided with a connector to be connected to a circuit board.
The connector comprises an insulator to be engaged with the circuit
board, a plurality of signal contacts held by the insulator and
arranged in a single row in a first direction, and a plurality of
ground contacts held by the insulator and arranged in a single row
in the first direction. Each of the signal contacts has a terminal
portion formed at one end in a second direction perpendicular to
the first direction to be connected to the circuit board, and a
contacting portion formed at the other end in the second direction
to be connected to a mating member to be connected to the
connector. Each of the ground contacts has a terminal portion
formed at one end in the second direction to be connected to the
circuit board, a contacting portion formed at the other end in the
second direction to be contacted with the mating member, and a pair
of flat plate portions protruding from the terminal portions of
each of the ground contacts in the first direction and spaced from
each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first and the
second directions. The signal contacts and the ground contacts are
alternately disposed. The terminal portion of each of the signal
contacts is surrounded on three sides by the terminal portions of
adjacent ones of the ground contacts and the flat plate
portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a whole structure of a
connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a part of the connector
illustrated in FIG. 1A as seen from a particular angle;
[0012] FIG. 1C is a view similar to FIG. 1B as seen from a
different angle;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a signal contact
used in the connector illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a ground contact
used in the connector illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the connector illustrated in
FIG. 1A;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of a part of the connector
illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a part of the connector, taken
along a line VI-VI in FIG. 4; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional view a part of the connector, taken
along a line VII-VII in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, description will be made of a
whole structure of a connector according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] The connector is depicted by a reference numeral 1 and
comprises an insulator 2 having a rectangular shape elongated in a
first direction A1, a number of signal contacts 3 made of metal and
held by the insulator 2, and a number of ground contacts 4 made of
metal. The signal contacts 3 are arranged in a single row in the
first direction A1 and spaced from one another at a predetermined
pitch. The ground contacts 4 are also arranged in a single row in
the first direction A1 and spaced from one another at a
predetermined pitch.
[0021] The signal contacts 3 and the ground contacts 4 are
alternately arranged. At opposite ends in the first direction A1,
the ground contacts 4 are disposed. Therefore, between every
adjacent ones of the ground contacts 4, the signal contact 3 is
arranged. Herein, one of the adjacent ground contacts 4 is referred
to as a first ground contact, another of the adjacent ground
contacts 4 being referred to as a second ground contact.
[0022] The insulator 2 is provided with a groove 2a formed on one
side surface thereof in a second direction A2 perpendicular to the
first direction A1. The groove 2a is adapted to receive a circuit
board 5, such as a printed board, to be press-fitted therein.
Further, the insulator 2 is provided with a protrusion 2b formed on
the other side surface in the second direction A2.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2 in addition, the signal contacts 3 will
be described.
[0024] Each of the signal contacts 3 has, at its one end in the
second direction A2, a lead portion 3a for soldering and an
enlarged portion 3b in the vicinity of the lead portion 3a. The
enlarged portion 3b is widened in the first direction A1. By
changing the width or the thickness of the enlarged portion 3b, the
impedance is adjusted. A combination of the lead portion 3a and the
enlarged portion 3b is referred to as a terminal portion to be
connected to the circuit board 5.
[0025] Each of the signal contacts 3 has, at the other end in the
second direction A2, a contacting portion 3c to be connected to a
signal contact of a mating connector to be mated with the connector
1.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3 in addition, the ground contacts 4 will
be described.
[0027] Each of the ground contacts 4 is made of a plate material
and has, at one end in the second direction A2, a pair of lead
portions 4a for soldering, a pair of flat plate portions 4b in the
vicinity of the lead portions 4a, and a wide holding portion 4c
adjacent to the flat plate portions 4b. The lead portions 4a extend
on a plane spreading in the second direction A2 and a third
direction A3 perpendicular to the first and the second directions
A1 and A2 and spaced from each other. A combination of the lead
portions 4a will be referred to as a terminal portion to be
connected to the circuit board 5.
[0028] The flat plate portions 4b are perpendicularly bent from
opposite edges of the terminal portion to extend in the same
direction or on the same side in the first direction A1. Therefore,
the flat plate portions 4b are faced to each other and spaced from
each other in the third direction A3. A combination of the flat
plate portions 4b will be referred to as an extending portion. The
holding portion 4c is adapted to be held by the insulator 2.
[0029] Each of the ground contacts 4 has, at the other end in the
second direction A2, a contacting portion 4d to be connected to a
ground contact of a mating connector to be mated with the connector
1. As will become clear later, each of the ground contacts 4 has a
symmetrical shape in the third direction A3 because it is used in
common on both of first and second principal surfaces of the
circuit board 5. For convenience of description, the first and the
second principal surfaces will be referred to as upper and lower
surfaces, respectively.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition, the connector 1 will
be described in detail.
[0031] The circuit board 5 is provided with a number of signal
patterns 5a formed on opposite surfaces thereof in the third
direction A3, i.e., the upper and the lower surfaces. The signal
patterns 5a on the opposite surfaces of the circuit board 5 are
located opposite to each other in the third direction A3.
[0032] The signal contacts 3 include upper signal contacts faced to
the signal patterns 5a on the upper surface of the circuit board 5
and lower signal contacts faced to the signal patterns 5a on the
lower surface of the circuit board 5. Thus, the upper and the lower
signal contacts 3 faced to each other in the third direction A3
forms a pair. The upper and the lower signal contacts 3 in each
pair are at least partially disposed between the flat plate
portions 4b of each of the ground contacts 4. As a result, by every
adjacent ones of the ground contacts 4 cooperating with each other
and by using the flat plate portions 4b, the terminal portions of
the upper and the lower signal contacts 3 in each pair are
substantially completely surrounded. Either one of the upper and
the lower signal contacts 3 in each pair may be referred to as an
additional signal contact.
[0033] Through a space between the upper and the lower signal
contacts 3 in each pair, the circuit board 5 is inserted into the
groove 2a illustrated in FIG. 1. The circuit board 5 is provided
with a pair of ground plane layers 5b adjacent to the upper and the
lower surfaces thereof, respectively. When the circuit board 5 is
inserted into the groove 2a, the lead portions 3a of the upper and
the lower signal contacts 3 in each pair are faced to and brought
into press contact with the signal patterns 5a on the upper and the
lower surfaces of the circuit board 5, respectively. The lead
portions 4a of each of the ground contacts 4 are faced to and
brought into contact with the ground plane layers 5b on the upper
and the lower surfaces of the circuit board 5, respectively. The
signal contact 3 is shorter in length by .DELTA.D than the ground
contact 4.
[0034] With the above-mentioned structure, opposite sides of the
enlarged portion 3b of the signal contact 3 in the third direction
A3 are faced to the flat plate portion 4b of the ground contact 4
and the ground plane layer 5b, respectively. Further, opposite
sides of the signal contact 3 in the first direction A1 are faced
to adjacent ones of the ground contacts 4, respectively. Therefore,
each of the signal contacts 3 is shielded in four directions (on
four sides), i.e., in leftward, rightward, upward, and downward
directions (on left, right, up, and down sides). It is therefore
possible to suppress the occurrence of crosstalk.
[0035] The flat plate portions 4b of the ground contact 4 surround
the enlarged portions 3b of the signal contacts 3. Preferably,
greater portions of the signal contacts 3 are surrounded by the
flat plate portions 4b.
[0036] Thus, each of the signal contacts 3 is shielded by the
ground contacts 4 and the ground plane layer 5b of the circuit
board 5 in the four directions (on the four sides), i.e., the left,
the right, the upward, and the downward directions (on left, right,
up, and down sides). Alternatively, the signal contact 3 may be
shielded in the three directions (on the three sides) without the
ground plane layer 5b.
[0037] In the foregoing description, the connector 1 is mounted to
the upper and the lower surfaces of the circuit board 5 but may be
mounted to only one of the upper and the lower surfaces.
[0038] Although this invention has thus far been described in
conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will readily
be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into
practice in various other manners without departing the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *